Zimmer Holdings bought rival Biomet Inc. for $13 billion. Both companies design, develop and manufacture orthopedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants and related surgical products. Both are headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, aka the “Orthopedic Capital of the World.” (In 1895, inventor Revra DePuy made the world’s first fiber splint in Warsaw. In 1905, J.O. Zimmer became DePuy’s first sales rep. When Zimmer went off to start his own company, DePuy Manufacturing was sold to Zimmer’s #1 rival Johnson and Johnson.)
Today, the global orthopedic devices market is valued at $29.2 billion and is expected to reach an estimated value of $41.2 billion in 2019. High rates of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and obesity are key drivers for the market. Although the North American market is valued at $11 billion, Asia-Pacific is considered as the most lucrative market for orthopedic devices due to bone related disorders and obesity. Then there’s the dental implant market, growing by 500,000 a year in America alone. The global dental implants market is expected to nearly double – from $3.4 billion to $6.6 billion – by 2018.
